My rabbit had her babies yesterday and i thought there was about 4-5 kits. Had a good look today and there are 11. Will she be able to feed that many? I thought they only had about 6 kits each time, they are all alive some look bigger than others but all wriggling around and warm.
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11 kits help!!
- Thread starter lereme
- Start date
ash&crystal
Alpha Buck
was this an accidental litter? not trying to be judge mental or anything just cuz if it wasnt then why did u breed them without being able to look after so many:? and my rabbit had an accidental litter and she had six i know its not near as much but it was her first and she has been fine. hoping for the best for mum and baby's good luck
She will struggle with 11. You have probably 3 options (well, 4, but one is probably a non starter).
1, leave them all with her and the weaker ones will eventually die.
2, try to find a foster mum in the area (a bunny who has given birth around the same time) to see if she will feed some of them.
3, take them all out and rotate them round. So split them into two groups, and work it so she feeds them on rotation. This will depend on the mummy bunny. You would have to be careful. I'm not sure how the best way to do it would be. Maybe each set gets a feed every six hours or something like that.
None of those 3 are really ideal though. The most chance of success will be probably 2- if you can find somebunny.
4- Handrearing is a possibility but it very rarely works. If you want to, I would suggest trying www.rabbitsonline.net and seeing what they say because none of our KMR or goats milk or anything are at all appropriate but they may be able to give you better suggestions.
1, leave them all with her and the weaker ones will eventually die.
2, try to find a foster mum in the area (a bunny who has given birth around the same time) to see if she will feed some of them.
3, take them all out and rotate them round. So split them into two groups, and work it so she feeds them on rotation. This will depend on the mummy bunny. You would have to be careful. I'm not sure how the best way to do it would be. Maybe each set gets a feed every six hours or something like that.
None of those 3 are really ideal though. The most chance of success will be probably 2- if you can find somebunny.
4- Handrearing is a possibility but it very rarely works. If you want to, I would suggest trying www.rabbitsonline.net and seeing what they say because none of our KMR or goats milk or anything are at all appropriate but they may be able to give you better suggestions.
I have moved the smaller ones to the top of the nest so hopefully they will get a feed, she would allow me to put them on the teat when she is on my knee but I don't know what to do for the best. This was an accidental breeding and entirely my own fault i never slept a wink last night thinking there was 4-5 let alone 11, no wonder she is eating as much. Male has been neutered and has his own cage, looks like a will be nedding a few more hutches for them.
Putting the weakest on the top won't do anything because the stronger ones will push them out the way.
You could try holding mum then and allowing the weaker ones an additional feed or two. You're going to have to clearly look at their bellies to see who looks full and who doesn't if you do that.
She is going to be very worn down so she is going to need a perfect diet to help her through this.
I have no clue about breeding what-so-ever but I just wanted to post and wish you luck with the babies! 11 is a huge amount!
Is it mum-bun's first litter? Hopefully she will cope ok. I think if it were me, I'd leave all 11 babies with her but do as Sky-O has suggested and try to hold the smaller babies onto mum so you know they're getting fed ok. Make sure mum bun has a good supply of quality food and water too.
Good luck!
Is it mum-bun's first litter? Hopefully she will cope ok. I think if it were me, I'd leave all 11 babies with her but do as Sky-O has suggested and try to hold the smaller babies onto mum so you know they're getting fed ok. Make sure mum bun has a good supply of quality food and water too.
Good luck!
TeflonsShadow
Wise Old Thumper
Hey, just thought I would mention, there may be another option....
Can you get hold of some milk and give the smallest ones extra feed? I had to do that when my rabbit had an accidental litter, she became so skinny, I was so worried about her, but after a fortnight of keeping them with mum and me extra feeding twice a day, all was fine. They had the benefit of snuggles with bros and sis's and hopefully some milk off mum as well as a bit extra few to them by me.
I think people generally recommend goats milk these days? I used lactose free powder milk back in the day (it was 8 years ago).
Also, you can buy hand rearing teats.... I think Mikki do one, you might be able to buy one at the vets maybe
PM is you want any extra help. Good luck!! (ps, give the babies that are the smallest and weakest a bit more when you feed them )
Can you get hold of some milk and give the smallest ones extra feed? I had to do that when my rabbit had an accidental litter, she became so skinny, I was so worried about her, but after a fortnight of keeping them with mum and me extra feeding twice a day, all was fine. They had the benefit of snuggles with bros and sis's and hopefully some milk off mum as well as a bit extra few to them by me.
I think people generally recommend goats milk these days? I used lactose free powder milk back in the day (it was 8 years ago).
Also, you can buy hand rearing teats.... I think Mikki do one, you might be able to buy one at the vets maybe
PM is you want any extra help. Good luck!! (ps, give the babies that are the smallest and weakest a bit more when you feed them
)Hey, just thought I would mention, there may be another option....
Can you get hold of some milk and give the smallest ones extra feed? I had to do that when my rabbit had an accidental litter, she became so skinny, I was so worried about her, but after a fortnight of keeping them with mum and me extra feeding twice a day, all was fine. They had the benefit of snuggles with bros and sis's and hopefully some milk off mum as well as a bit extra few to them by me.
I think people generally recommend goats milk these days? I used lactose free powder milk back in the day (it was 8 years ago).
Also, you can buy hand rearing teats.... I think Mikki do one, you might be able to buy one at the vets maybe
PM is you want any extra help. Good luck!! (ps, give the babies that are the smallest and weakest a bit more when you feed them
I think that would come under handrearing because you'd still have to help them wee in those times and you would still be putting something into them that is not ideal and can upset their tummy. The risk os aspiration would also be huge too (that's how most hand reared babies die, hat and the gut conversion).
Goat's milk is not ideal although it is used a lot. It doesn't have the necessary nutrients in.
